In the complex "family" of 976nm laser systems, the pump protector may not be as eye-catching as the laser, but it plays an indispensable and important role, like a silent guard, ensuring the stable operation of the entire system. So how does it work and what performance advantages does it have? Let's explore it together.
Let's talk about the key role of the pump protector first. In the 976nm laser system, the transmission of optical signals requires a stable and safe environment. The pump protector is like a "safety gatekeeper" that can effectively block unwanted optical signals. It prevents the reversely transmitted light from damaging other components in the system by processing optical signals of specific wavelengths. For example, during the operation of the laser system, some reflected light may be generated. If these reflected lights are not controlled, they may be like "little monsters" running rampant, interfering with the normal operation of key components such as lasers, and may even damage them. The pump protector can isolate these "troublesome" reflected lights with its own functions, and escort the stable operation of the laser system.
Next, let's take a look at its performance advantages. From the perspective of wavelength range, the pump protector is suitable for the wavelength range of 976±10 nanometers. This is like a "fitting suit" tailored for the 976nm laser system, which can accurately "dock" with the optical signal in the system to ensure that it works within the appropriate wavelength range.
Insertion loss is also an important indicator for measuring the performance of the pump protector. At 23℃, its maximum insertion loss is only 0.45 dB. Low insertion loss means that the energy loss of the optical signal is very small when it passes through the pump protector. You can imagine the optical signal as a moving car, and the insertion loss is the fuel consumption of the car during driving. Low insertion loss is like the low fuel consumption of the car, which allows the optical signal to continue to transmit in the system at a higher energy state, ensuring the energy efficiency of the laser system.
In terms of isolation, at 23℃, in the wavelength range of 1020-1100nm, the minimum isolation can reach 60 dB. High isolation enables the pump protector to block unwanted optical signals more effectively, just like a solid high wall, completely isolating interfering optical signals, further improving the stability and reliability of the laser system.
The return loss is also excellent, with a minimum return loss of 50 dB. This shows that during the transmission of the optical signal, the energy loss caused by reflection is controlled at a very low level, and the optical signal can be transmitted more smoothly in the system, reducing the interference and energy waste caused by signal reflection.
In addition, the pump protector also has good performance in thermal stability and the maximum optical power it can withstand. The thermal stability is ≤0.005 dB/℃, which means that when the temperature changes, its performance fluctuates little and can adapt to different working environment temperatures. The maximum optical power (continuous wave) is 3 watts, and the maximum peak power of nanosecond pulses is 10 kilowatts, which means that it can withstand a certain intensity of optical signal input and can work stably in high-power laser application scenarios.
In the 976nm laser system, the pump protector has become an important part of ensuring the stable and efficient operation of the laser system due to its key protection role and a series of outstanding performance advantages. With the continuous development of laser technology, it is believed that it will play a greater role in more application scenarios.